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Former WCO Awards Laureate received Polar Music Prize 2009
09/09/2009
 Dr. José Antonio Abreu was awarded the Polar Music Prize, one of the most prestigious and unique music prizes given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. The Prize honors musicians, groups and institutions from a wide range of countries, cultures and continents for their exceptional social and musical achievements.
Dr. Abreu, a retired sconomist, trained musician, and social reformer founded El Sistema in 1975 based on conviction that all Venezuellan children can benefit from participating in classical music. After thirty years, El Sistema is now a nationwide organization of 102 youth orchestras, 55 children’s orchestras, and 270 music centers.
El Sistema uses music education to help youth, most from impoverished circumstances, to achieve their full potential and acquire values that have a positive impact on their growth and lives in society. The program has changed the lives of thousands of children, of their families and their communities. Several participants of the program have in fact gone on to have major international careers, including Gustavo Dudamel, who is the conductor and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
 El Sistema has inspired many countries of Latin America to adopt a similar program. The United States and several European countries have also recently started a network of similar project. It is the hope of Dr. Abreu to create a global system of children and youth orchestras so as to give the future generations of the world the best opportunities of personal and social progress.
Dr. Abreu received a Creative Arts Awards from the World Culture Open in 2004 for his vision and unceasing efforts to give underserved children a new hope for the future through music and creative education. Dr. Abreu’s El Sistema has further continued its development since then and been gaining much national and international attention recently. |
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